78 minutes in the life (and near death) of Fabrice Muamba | Football | The Guardian The Observer 78 minutes in the life (and near death) of Fabrice Muamba When Bolton Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba, 23, dramatically collapsed last Saturday he came perilously close to death. This is the remarkable story of the team that saved him Fabrice Muamba of Bolton Wanderers is taken off on a stretcher after receiving CPR on the pitch. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Saturday 24 March 2012 20.08 EDT First published on Saturday 24 March 2012 20.08 EDT Share on Messenger Close At 18.13 GMT last Saturday, 43 minutes after kick-off in the FA Cup tie between Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur , played at White Hart Lane, north London, home of Spurs, 23-year-old Fabrice Muamba collapsed. As the stadium fell silent and medical staff huddled around him, the match was abandoned. Muamba's heart stopped beating for 78 minutes.

18.13-18.19 THE COLLAPSE The first minutes after Muamba collapsed were crucial. Every minute lost before applying CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation: the urgent and sometimes necessarily savage – it can break ribs – application of downthrusts to the chest to keep oxygen artificially flowing from the heart) is estimated to decrease chances of survival by 10%. Cardiac arrest, which is what Muamba suffered, is significantly different from a heart attack. The second is usually caused by coronary heart disease, through which a clot starves the heart of blood and oxygen and damages the heart muscle itself. Cardiac arrest, which can be caused by electrocution and the like, but is usually the result of a genetic unhappiness, can affect the healthiest hearts and simply means that they suddenly stop pumping blood properly, the heart's internal electrical system having become temporarily scrambled: CPR is urgent and further more complex treatment is mandatory. It didn't take long, in Muamba's case, for the CPR to be administered.

According to Amy Lawrence, who had been covering the match for the Observer, the reason everyone knew something was wrong was that Muamba, though out of the current run of play, suddenly "fell like a tree trunk. He didn't put his arms out to break his fall, or anything, he just dropped." It was seconds before other players noticed. Rafael van der Vaart, a Spurs player, was the first to do so, and frantic signalling to the pitchside medical teams brought on the men in green. Spurs had five fully medically trained assistants pitchside that day, and there was, as ever, aid from the St John Ambulance unit. It was a far cry from 2006, when Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech fractured his skull playing against Reading. He had to crawl off the pitch by himself and wait for an ambulance: the resultant outcry saw standards of medical pitchside preparation improved to their current high standards. "The medical issues and the structure has changed for the better," Cech said last week. "[Fabrice] still has a chance to survive because of all the equipment around the pitch.

It's a great change because sometimes it takes only a few seconds to change a whole life and a whole career." Muamba began to get, if we can call it that, lucky. Instantly given oxygen and professional CPR, his chances were already raised. The CPR is the main thing, although oxygen certainly helps, a priority recognised in the recent British Heart Foundation television advert featuring player-turned-actor Vinnie Jones, which makes a point of ignoring the kiss of life. I asked the foundation why it had apparently changed its stance after school generations had been taught, on dummies, to both breathe and push. "The kiss of life helps if possible, but it's not a priority," said a spokesman. "And, if people haven't been trained, sometimes they'll stand back, afraid they'll mess it up – our message is simply that it's better to get in and start CPR, rather than worrying about co-ordinating all that with mouth-to-mouth and somehow getting it wrong." So push-down CPR is now the official priority, but do not kid yourself it is not hard work – you need to make thrusts of at least 5cm downwards, repeated at a rhythm of 80 a minute.

The Vinnie Jones advert features the Bee Gees' hit Staying Alive, which might be a dodgy record but is a perfect rhythmic touchstone. What was happening to Muamba at this time, according to Professor Sanjay Sharma, a cardiology specialist at St George's University Hospital, London, was "ventricular fibrillation. Rapid chaotic electrical activity within the heart. It means the heart stops its usual pumping function; good oxygenated blood should be pumping from the left ventricle, coming back to the right, but suddenly it's not. Which, after a short while, is not usually compatible with life." But Muamba continued to get luckier. Sitting in the stand that day with his brothers was Spurs fan Dr Andrew Deaner, consultant cardiologist at the London Chest Hospital. "I noticed that Fabrice Muamba had collapsed and I saw people running on and starting CPR," he said. "I turned to my brothers and said 'I should help' and they agreed." In another piece of luck, he was allowed on the pitch: stewards can be tough, but Deaner, after arguing briefly with two young men who "didn't want to know", found an older steward whom he knew and persuaded him to give him access.

As soon as he arrived on the pitch, Deaner "could see they were doing very good CPR. They had the defib ready." Muamba was given 15 defibrillation shocks in all: two on the pitch, one in the tunnel, 12 in the ambulance. CPR is fine, apparently, for manually persuading the body to pump oxygen around for a bit, but the heart needs to be jump-started with a 300-joule electric shock. In total, Muamba was to take 4,500 joules in those 78 minutes. As he entered the tunnel, the crowd finally fell silent. According to Lawrence, there had been "a groundswell, a primal roar, chanting Fabrice's name. The Tottenham fans joined in. They chanted his name and then they started chanting, 'Come on!' It was like there was a compulsion to encourage him to get up, wake up.

But he was carried off and a kind of hush descended." 18.19-19.01 THE TUNNEL/AMBULANCE According to Sharma, this is where something remarkable must have taken place, thanks to the presence of Deaner, the fan who half an hour previously had been simply watching a match with his brothers. There was a squad of medical experts and friends there already. Spurs's club doctor, Shabaaz Mughal; and paramedics Peter Fischer and Wayne Diesel, who had been so involved in the first six minutes: and Bolton physio Andy Mitchell and club doctor Jonathan Tobin, a personal friend of Muamba. Sharma told the Observer that the decision to take Muamba to the London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green – almost eight miles away – rather than, as had been planned, the North Middlesex, much nearer White Hart Lane, may have helped to save the footballer's life. "I can only imagine that it was down to Dr Deaner, because he worked there, and knew that Muamba needed the specialist equipment at Bethnal Green. The amazing thing is that he persuaded the ambulance to change plans: ambulancemen don't normally like to do that.

But it was vital, I think. Bethnal Green has equipment which can make a great difference. Ambulances don't have them, and the other hospital wouldn't have." It was a difficult journey through north London. One of the vehicle's paramedics apparently had to hold the waist of Bolton's doctor, Tobin, while he fought to administer available drugs to available veins, because the pitchside doctor still had on his football boots, and studs slip on metal. A further 12 defibs were carried out during the journey. "It's a remarkable amount of work to be done on a body in such a time, and a remarkable body to have taken it," Sharma said. "I'm still rather amazed. And thankful that there was so much expertise, and will. "Even the CPR is hard, can be hard – it's tiring. It's physical. Often you have to ask someone to take over. But it's crucial, in the early minutes – CPR keeps something pumping, and with a lack of oxygen any organ soon starts to die, the heart and brain needing the most, and the quickest. "The brain is your hard drive. If it's allowed to conk out, it's the end.

Had this happened to most chaps the survival rate would be 11%. If you get specialist help, as he did, it's something like 64%." Shortly after 7pm, the ambulance slewed around the last corner in Bethnal Green. 19.01-19.31 HOSPITAL The London Chest Hospital has teams of cardiologists, brain specialists, and something that they call "intensitists". Some had been listening to the match on the radio, and wondering whether they might get the call to readiness. The journey had been six miles longer, on a Saturday teatime, than it might had the ambulance made a routine trip to the North Middlesex, were it not for the intervention of Deaner. According to him: "We went straight into the lab and I put a bigger line into a vein under his shoulder blade and quickly scrubbed up. We got access to arteries and a bigger vein and carried on giving shocks and drugs." Muamba's team physician, Jonathan Tobin, was suddenly out of the loop.

"Once we got to the hospital I was no longer part of the hands-on crew and it was when I took a step back that everything that just happened hit me." Fabrice Muamba was in the best place possible, perhaps in the whole of Britain, even though he wasn't to know it. 19.31 HIS HEART STARTS WORKING AGAIN Against all expectations, Muamba regained consciousness on the Monday after his collapse. He recognised his fiancee, Shauna Magunda, and asked after their son Joshua. Within hours he had talked to a team-mate and expressed dismay to his father that his collapse caused the match to be abandoned. By Tuesday, Muamba was declaring himself "fine", but he remains in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital and, according to his family, faces a long road to recovery. Experts say the swift action of medics at the scene undoubtedly helped his chances. Deaner said the London response had been "faultless: one thing after another just went right." He visited Muamba shortly after his awakening and said he'd been moved to tears at the speed and strength of the player's recovery. "I understand you're a very good footballer," Deaner whispered into the ear of the stranger he'd helped.

He was rather taken by the dry response, the first piece of humour from a grim afternoon.

Muamba replied: "I try." Court hearing appeal against Liam Stacey's sentence for racist tweets hears of student's previous drunken violence Published: 30 Mar 2012 The Bolton manager, as well as Fabrice Muamba's father and fiancée, have issued a message of thanks to Tottenham Hotspur for helping to save the midfielder's life Published: 27 Mar 2012 Liam Stacey sentenced to 56 days in prison for posting offensive comments on Twitter after footballer's cardiac arrest Published: 27 Mar 2012 Recent cases have highlighted disturbing instances of racial abuse on Twitter, and some footballers and celebrities are leaving the site after becoming targets Published: 27 Mar 2012 Fabrice Muamba Whose Heart Stopped For Nearly 80 Minutes In March Marries Today - INFORMATION NIGERIA Fabrice Muamba Whose Heart Stopped For Nearly 80 Minutes In March Marries Today niyi October 21, 2012 Fabrice and Shauna Former Bolton Wanderers midfielder, Fabrice Muamba is getting married to fiancée Shauna Magunda today.

The retired footballer whose life is a testimony after his heart stopped for nearly 80 minutes during a match against Tottenham Hotspur in March where he suffered a cardiac arrest grew up in Walthamstow and went to school in Markhouse Road. Despite hoping he would be able to continue his playing career, the 24-year-old retired from professional football in August on the advice of a heart specialist. Muamba will wed Shauna Magunda at a Chesire castle today, with the doctor who helped save his life, Andrew Deaner, of Barking Havering and Redbridge University Trust, expected to be in the congregation. Recommended for you Fabrice Muamba gets University of Bolton honorary doctorate - BBC News BBC News Fabrice Muamba gets University of Bolton honorary doctorate 13 July 2012 Close share panel Image caption Fabrice Muamba collapsed with a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match in March Footballer Fabrice Muamba - whose heart stopped for 78 minutes after he collapsed during a Premier League match - has received an honorary doctorate. The Bolton Wanderers' player said he was "very humbled" to accept the award from the town's university.

The 24-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur in March. He said he had accepted the doctorate to celebrate the actions of medical staff who helped to save his life. Muamba said: "I am very humbled to accept it (the award) on behalf of all the amazing men and women who combined to save my life, the paramedics and medical teams of Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham, ambulance personnel, and of course the consultants, doctors and nurses at The London Chest Hospital. "My family and I owe them all so much." 'Getting stronger' His partner Shauna was in attendance at the ceremony with their three-year-old son Joshua. The footballer said he still did not know if he would be able to resume his professional career. He said: "I'm getting stronger every day. I'm far away from being back on the football pitch. "I really, really hope, by the grace of God, that I'll be back on the pitch but I'm just grateful to the university for this doctorate and I receive it on behalf of everybody who helped me to survive the cardiac arrest." Muamba's family fled war in the Democratic Republic of Congo before seeking asylum in the UK.

Despite arriving in London aged 11 unable to speak English, he went on to achieve 10 GCSEs and three A-levels and joined Arsenal FC's youth academy in 2002 before moving to Birmingham and then Bolton in 2008. University of Bolton Vice Chancellor Dr George Holmes said: "Fabrice is an exceptional young man in his own right and has received his honorary doctorate to celebrate and recognise the work of the teams who rushed to his aid." Mr Muamba was given a tour of the university's Clinical Simulation Suite where students are trained to deal with cardiac arrest using computerised dummy patients.

Tragedy in DR Congo as 20 Players and Fans Drown Returning from Match in Zambia | Bleacher Report Tragedy in DR Congo as 20 Players and Fans Drown Returning from Match in Zambia Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories The Luapala River (in red) where twenty players from DRC team AC Virgin KA drowned on Sunday 1.0K 0 Comments Twenty players and supporters of DR Congo club side AC Virgin KA drowned on Sunday when their boat capsized after it was hit by a giant wave caused by a passing speedboat on Zambia's Luapala River. The club, who play in the Congolese lower division, were in Zambia to play against a local team named Senegal , based in the southern African nation's Senga island. FIFA president Sepp Blatter has sent his condolences to the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA). “On behalf of FIFA and in my own name, I am writing to you and the Federation Congolaise de Football-Association to extend my most sincere condolences,” he said in a message to FECOFA President Constant Omari Selemani.

“I would be most grateful if you would pass on the deep sympathy and support of the entire international football family to the families, loved ones and clubs of the deceased at this very difficult time.” The Luapala River, which forms a stretch of Africa's second longest river, the Congo, and acts as a natural border between the DRC and Zambia, had already claimed 100 lives this year with two boats capsizing since January. A local official said the drownings are often due to overcrowding on vessels. It is the second tragedy for DRC soccer supporters in recent weeks following the near-death of Bolton Wanderers' Kinshasa-born midfielder Fabrice Muamba, whose heart stopped beating during an FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur on March 17th. Medics revived Muamba on his way to a London hospital where he is currently recuperating, though there are fears that he may never play again. On the field, the national team, known as the Leopards, are vying for their first World Cup berth since 1974 and are on a run of seven games unbeaten as they seek to reach Brazil in 2014.

The country has produced some notable footballers over the years including former Real Madrid and Chelsea defensive midfielder Claude Makelele, Blackpool's Tresor Lomana Lua Lua, former Monaco striker Shabini Nonda and current starlet Tresor Mputu. Popularity of the 'Pray4Muamba' message both surprising and uplifting | Richard Williams | Football | The Guardian Popularity of the 'Pray4Muamba' message both surprising and uplifting Richard Williams Rapid spread of the sentiment was a testament both to the strength of compassion and the power of modern technology Club, players and supporters have been united in their expressions of hope and support for Fabrice Muamba. Illustration: Philip Partridge/GNM Imaging Monday 26 March 2012 17.59 EDT First published on Monday 26 March 2012 17.59 EDT Share on Messenger Close The vicar of Bolton was working at his desk when misfortune befell Fabrice Muamba at White Hart Lane.

"I go to the occasional game at the Reebok," the Rev Matt Thompson told me, "and I was following the match in real time, flicking between the BBC website and the Guardian's minute-by-minute coverage." No one will be surprised to learn that, once the gravity of the event became apparent, he prayed for Muamba. What may be more surprising, perhaps, is that so many others found themselves making a similar response. "That struck me straight away," he said. "At first it came from the way the players reacted. Rafael van der Vaart dropped to his knees and people said, 'He's praying.' People in the crowd were praying. It wasn't long before 'Pray4Muamba' was on the social networks." And that was just the start. Soon the tweets were flying. "Come on Fabrice Muamba, praying for you" – Rio Ferdinand. "Praying for him and his family" – Wayne Rooney. "Praying for you Fab" – his team-mate Stuart Holden.

And Van der Vaart, too, once the Cup tie between Spurs and Bolton had been abandoned: "We're all praying for him." Shauna Magunda, the player's fiancee, used Twitter to ask for prayers. "Pray4Muamba" became not only a trending hashtag but the legend on players' T-shirts, including that of Gary Cahill, a former Bolton colleague, who lifted his Chelsea shirt to reveal the message after scoring against Leicester the following day. The phenomenon struck the vicar, and it struck Owen Coyle, too. "Prayer was the most used word of the weekend," the Bolton manager observed later in the week. "And long may it remain so," he added, in a subtle acknowledgement of his own beliefs. The widespread exhortation to prayer made an impression even on an observer such as this one, who veers between a vague agnosticism and, in darker moods, outright atheism. It seemed an unusually immediate and vivid representation of a reflex rooted in some profound, even atavistic instinct, one that may be rarely acknowledged in the normal course of life but emerges in moments of extreme duress or, in this case, imaginative empathy with a shocking public event.

When it comes to exaggerated displays of mass grief, I find myself sympathising with the view of the Daily Mail columnist Richard Littlejohn, that such outpourings are fuelled, in the post-Diana world, by self-indulgence rather than genuine sorrow. But the response to Muamba's collapse was surely too quick to have been other than spontaneous and authentic. That swiftness interested the vicar of Bolton. "The ubiquity of the modern media – and the existence of the social media in particular – means that people were drawn into the story straight away," he said. "I was praying for Muamba a minute or two after the incident had taken place, which wouldn't otherwise have been the case. And in this instance people seemed to be very comfortable saying, 'I'm praying for him.' Whereas English people might normally just say, 'I'm thinking about him,' this time they were saying, 'He's in our thoughts and prayers.'" Modern footballers tend to live in country mansions, so there are no members of the present Bolton squad in the congregation at St Peter's, an imposing Victorian Gothic edifice which stands squarely in the heart of the city.

It was there that Mr Thompson officiated in January last year at the funeral of Nat Lofthouse, Bolton's greatest player. The day after Muamba had been rushed to hospital he said a special prayer for the player during his Sunday services, and the BBC turned up to film it. But in a largely secular – some would say godless – world, did all the people who said they were praying or invited others to prayer really pray, in the conventional sense? If so, to whom or to what – or for what – were they praying? Christians believe in the possibility of a direct response from their God, whom they see as a sort of Divine Playmaker, but do Muslims hope to provoke a similar intervention from Allah? Can agnostics or atheists pray, too? "Please keep praying for @fmuamba it's helping I can really feel it," Shauna Magunda tweeted during the week. But is it really possible that a chorus of prayer made any difference to the fate of a man whose heart stopped for 78 minutes, and whose survival appears to owe much to his exceptional physical condition? Are we just indulging in a superstitious ritual as a means of comforting ourselves?

"It doesn't matter what your chosen church is," Owen Coyle said. "The fact that a collective unit of people are praying together is important in that journey." It had been "refreshing", he said, to know so many people were praying for Muamba. "I believe that prayer is a universal thing to human beings," the vicar of Bolton said. "At some point in our lives, all people pray, whether they know who they're praying to or not. There's something within us that seeks to connect with the transcendent, however we conceive of it. And you could say that what's going on, helped by modern technology, is that people are encouraged to tap into that well of compassion we've all got within us, and to express it." That much, at least, we can all believe in.

richard.williams@ theguardian.com twitter.com/@ rwilliams1947 Court hearing appeal against Liam Stacey's sentence for racist tweets hears of student's previous drunken violence Published: 30 Mar 2012 The Bolton manager, as well as Fabrice Muamba's father and fiancée, have issued a message of thanks to Tottenham Hotspur for helping to save the midfielder's life Published: 27 Mar 2012 Liam Stacey sentenced to 56 days in prison for posting offensive comments on Twitter after footballer's cardiac arrest Published: 27 Mar 2012 Recent cases have highlighted disturbing instances of racial abuse on Twitter, and some footballers and celebrities are leaving the site after becoming targets Published: 27 Mar 2012 Muamba ‘keen to show appreciation’ to fans | The Voice Online Muamba ‘keen to show appreciation’ to fans Stricken footballer to thank supporters tonight 02/05/2012 03:09 PM Image Text: RETURN: Muamba BOLTON WANDERERS midfielder Fabrice Muamba and his family will be in attendance at the Reebok Stadium tonight (May 

2) as the Trotters take on Tottenham Hotspur.

The 24-year-old has made a miraculous recovery from his cardiac arrest that he suffered at White Hart Lane on March 17 during a fixture between Tottenham and Bolton. It will be the first time Muamba, whose heart stopped beating for over an hour, has attended a game since his collapse. "We are absolutely delighted that we will be able to welcome Fabrice and his family back to the Reebok, and we are all looking forward to seeing him,” said Bolton boss Owen Coyle. "It's fitting that the match is between these two clubs and that Fabrice is able to come along. I know Fabrice is very keen to show his appreciation to both sets of fans for their support." Muamba, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, continues with his rehabilitation and was fitted with a defibrillator but it is unknown whether he will return to football.

Posted on: 02/05/2012 03:09 PM Facebook Comments Articles about White Hart Lane - tribunedigital-chicagotribune Tearful Muamba makes emotional return to White Hart Lane Mike Collett and Reuters | November 8, 2012 LONDON (Reuters) - Former Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba, who suffered a cardiac arrest and almost died playing at Tottenham Hotspur in March, made an emotional return to White Hart Lane for the first time on Thursday. Muamba, whose heart stopped beating for 78 minutes after collapsing during an FA Cup tie between Spurs and Bolton, made a full recovery but the 24-year-old was forced to retire from the game on doctors' orders. Walking onto the pitch during... SPORTS Spurs set to start building new 58,000-seater stadium Reuters | July 12, 2014 LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur's plans to build a new 58,000-capacity stadium on a site next to their White Hart Lane home are set to go ahead following Government approval.

Spurs, who have played at White Hart Lane since 1899, hope to move into the new ground in 2017. "This is a very significant step", the club said on their website ( on Saturday before adding that they had "refined a detailed design of the stadium" to fully develop its... Advertisement Spurs set to start building new 58,000-seater stadium Reuters | July 12, 2014 LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur's plans to build a new 58,000-capacity stadium on a site next to their White Hart Lane home are set to go ahead following Government approval. Spurs, who have played at White Hart Lane since 1899, hope to move into the new ground in 2017. "This is a very significant step", the club said on their website ( on Saturday before adding that they had "refined a detailed design of the stadium" to fully develop its...

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The 23-year-old Kinshasa-born player was rushed to hospital after harrowing scenes towards the end of the first half at White Hart Lane in London, when the midfielder sank to the turf with no player near him. Several paramedics were seen attempting to revive him before he was stretchered off the field after 41 minutes with the scores at 1-1. Muamba was wearing an oxygen mask and was flanked by a number of paramedics and Bolton medical staff as he left the pitch. Related Content Tears and prayers for Bolton star who fell without warning Referee Howard Webb called the players off the field before an announcement shortly afterwards that the game had been abandoned. A joint statement from Bolton and the London Chest Hospital released at 9.30pm local time said Muamba was in intensive care. Advertisement "Bolton Wanderers can confirm that Fabrice Muamba has been admitted to The Heart Attack Centre at The London Chest Hospital where he is in a critically ill condition in intensive care," the statement said. "No further information will be issued at this stage.

The club and hospital request that the media and public respect the family's privacy at this time." SHARE Pin to Pinterest PIN Link Fabrice Muamba of Bolton Wanderers is carried off the field during their FA Cup quarter-final match against Tottenham Hotspur. Photo: Reuters The stricken footballer's condition prompted an avalanche of concern on social-networking site Twitter. Muamba's Bolton teammate Stuart Holden tweeted: "Praying for you Fab. Hope he's OK. Thoughts with him and his family." Commentating on ESPN, former Liverpool and England winger John Barnes said: "From the players' reaction on both sides it seemed that things were pretty serious." Former England coach Kevin Keegan, also commentating on the match, added: "[Tottenham striker] Jermain Defoe seemed absolutely distraught. "The fans are in a state of shock. I've never seen anything like that on a football pitch before. Our hearts go out to his family." English football stars were quick to express their concern, with Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand tweeting: "Come on Fabrice Muamba, praying for you." Arsenal and England midfiedler Jack Wilshere, who played with Muamba during a loan spell at Bolton, added: "Hope Muamba is okay.

Thoughts with him." Defoe said: "Pray for fab god willing he will pull through #PrayForMuamba." Middlesbrough defender Justin Hoyte - a former youth team colleague of Muamba at Arsenal - posted: "I seriously hope my best friend in football is OK. Stay strong bro please please stay strong. "God is with you remember that." Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone wrote: "Thoughts with Fab and his family. Feel sick watching this, puts football and everything else into perspective." Bolton manager Owen Coyle and club captain Kevin Davies were reported to have gone to hospital to join Muamba, who moved to England from the Democratic Republic of Congo at the age of 11 after his father fled the war-torn country.

AFP Doctor: Muamba was 'dead for 78 minutes' | The Independent Doctor: Muamba was 'dead for 78 minutes' Bolton medic hails 'miracle' as he reveals 15 electric shocks were needed to restart heart Thursday 22 March 2012 00:00 BST Click to follow The Independent Football Bolton's doctor gave Muamba 'little chance' but his recovery has stunned medics Getty Images These are still early days and this type of road to recovery can be fraught with setbacks but a full picture of Fabrice Muamba's emergence from catastrophic heart failure became clear last night, illustrating that his survival has been little less than miraculous. As The Independent reported yesterday, Muamba's club, Bolton Wanderers, will fulfil their relegation fixture with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday and replay on Tuesday the FA Cup quarter-final with Tottenham Hotspur, which was abandoned after the 23-year-old collapsed on the pitch.

But as Owen Coyle, back in the North-west on Tuesday night, yesterday took his first training session since the traumatic events at White Hart Lane, the Bolton team doctor Jonathan Tobin revealed that the England Under-21 international needed 15 defibrillator shocks as medical staff took one hour, 18 minutes to get the heart beating again. Dr Tobin also told of the frenzied scenes in the ambulance on the way from White Hart Lane, the sheer physical effort in working on the player in that confined space – and his conviction that Muamba stood minimal chance of surviving, when he had arrived at the London Chest Hospital. Medical staff worked on Muamba for 48 minutes between his collapse and arrival at the hospital, last Saturday. A further 30 minutes were then needed to get his heart working on its own. "In effect, he was dead in that time," said Dr Tobin, who described breaking down in the hospital corridor when the seriousness of what had happened to the player hit home – and added that he had feared the worst. Muamba received two shocks from the defibrillator on the pitch as medical staff from both clubs struggled to get his heart going.

Recalling the moment he arrived at the player's side, as he lay face down on the ground, Dr Tobin said: "I can't begin to explain the pressure that was there. Fabrice was in a type of cardiac arrest where the heart is showing lots of electrical activity but no muscular activity. It's something that often responds to drugs and shocks. Fabrice had, in total, 15 shocks. He had 12 shocks in the ambulance." Consultant cardiologist Dr Sam Mohiddin, who has been caring for Muamba at the hospital, said it was "extraordinary" for someone whose heart has stopped beating for as long as the player's did to make the kind of progress he has made. "Fabrice has continued to demonstrate positive signs of recovery and he has not only exceeded our expectations but also our hopes in the way he's recovered," he said. "But this remains very early in what could be a lengthy recovery period." It was Dr Tobin who detailed the long period of struggle to get the player's heart started. Dr Tobin admitted he broke down in tears in the hospital corridor when the seriousness of what had happened to the player hit home – and added that he had feared the worst.

Dr Andrew Deaner, the cardiologist and Tottenham fan who leapt from his seat in the crowd and rushed on to the pitch to help the player, said: "If you're going to use the term miraculous, I guess it could be used here." He also described visiting the player after he had woken up, when Muamba was able to make a joke – at a remarkably early point in his recovery process. "I whispered into his ear 'What's your name?'" Dr Deaner said. When Muamba gave his name, Dr Deaner said to him: "I understand you're a very good footballer'. And he said 'I try'." Dr Deaner said he had tears in his eyes at witnessing that sign of the player's sense of humour returning so soon. He also recalled how he had been watching the match with his brother when he saw Muamba collapse and doctors rush to his side. Turning to his brother, he said: "They're doing CPR. I should help." His brother agreed and so the father of three sprang into action. "Something sort of told me I should go down," he said.

"Looking back, it wouldn't have been surprising if the guys there said 'Go away, we don't need anybody else'. But if you were going to make a film to teach people how to run a complex arrest, this would have been the one to film. One thing after another went right." Reports last night said an Indian footballer died after collapsing on the pitch during a district-level league match. The 27-year-old Bangalore Mars striker D Venkatesh collapsed following a cardiac arrest at the Bangalore Football Stadium. With no ambulance available, his team-mates hired a tuk-tuk to take him to a local hospital where Venkatesh was declared dead. More about:

Question: What is the name of the footballer whose heart stopped during a match between Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur in March 2012?
Answer: FABRICE MUAMBA